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How do I meet travel buddies?
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Traveling alone can be quite lonely, especially if you don’t speak the language. But meeting new friends while traveling can help ease the loneliness.
There are lots of ways to meet people while traveling, including joining a tour group, volunteering at a hostel, or simply hanging out in bars and cafes.
But one of the easiest ways to meet people while abroad is by joining a social media site like Meetup.com.
Meetups are groups organized online that connect people based on interests. They usually have events scheduled throughout the week, such as happy hour or dinner parties.
You can join just about anything, whether it’s hiking, wine tasting, salsa dancing, or learning Spanish.
If you want to meet travelers, look for groups related to your destination. For example, if you’re visiting Paris, search for French speaking groups, or if you’re heading to Spain, search for Spanish speaking groups.
Once you’ve joined a group, you can browse member profiles to see which ones seem interesting. When you click on the profile, you’ll get information about the person, including their age, location, occupation, and interests.
After you’ve clicked on a few profiles, you can start messaging them directly. To avoid spamming, you should wait until you’ve received a response from a potential match before contacting them again.
When you’ve met enough people, you can decide to attend an event together. That way, you’ll have something fun to talk about during your trip.
Meet Travel Buddies Online
Traveling solo is great, but traveling alone isn’t always possible. So how do you find friends who share your passion for adventure?
There are several ways to connect with travelers online, including social media sites, forums, blogs, and websites. But there’s no substitute for meeting them face-to-face.
That’s where Meetup comes in. This site allows users to create groups based on interests, hobbies, and passions. Members of these groups can then join together to go out and experience those same activities.
If you’re looking to meet others who share your interest in hiking, biking, rock climbing, or any number of outdoor adventures, this is a great place to start.
And remember, when you meet people in person, you’ll be able to build trust and friendships that last long after your trip is over.
Ask Friends Who Have Been There Before
If you’re looking for friends who’ve been there before, ask them. They may be willing to share their experiences with you. And if not, at least you’ll have some great stories to tell when you return home.
When traveling alone, it’s important to keep your wits about you. Be aware of your surroundings and take precautions against crime. Don’t leave valuables unattended. Keep track of where you park your car. Avoid walking alone late at night.
And remember, no matter how safe you feel, never assume that you won’t be robbed or assaulted. The safest place to be is in a crowd. So stay alert and use common sense.
While traveling solo, you should also avoid being too friendly with strangers. This isn’t because you’re a target; rather, it’s because you risk getting stuck with a friend who wants to spend every waking moment together.
Instead, try meeting people through shared interests. Join a local hiking club or volunteer group. Or join a tour company that offers excursions to places you’d like to visit. These activities give you plenty of chances to interact with locals and build friendships.
Once you find a buddy, make sure you plan ahead. Ask him or her to help you book hotels, restaurants, tours, and transportation. Also, make sure you agree on a schedule for visiting sites. This way, you won’t waste time waiting for each other.
Finally, make sure you have enough cash to cover expenses. While you may be able to rely on credit cards, many countries require travelers to carry sufficient funds to pay for incidentals.
Join Local Groups
If you’re looking to meet travel buddies, join local groups where you live. The more people who share similar interests, the better.
Local groups are great because they allow you to connect with others who share your passion for traveling. They also offer a wealth of information and resources for planning trips together.
When joining a group, be friendly and helpful. Offer to help out when needed. Volunteer to host events and organize outings. Show interest in everyone’s experiences and ask questions.
Also, keep in mind that not every group is created equal. Some groups may be too large, some too small, some too formal, some too informal. So take the time to find the right fit for you.
Once you’ve found a group that works well for you, consider joining its Facebook page. This gives you access to additional resources and allows you to stay connected with members.
Finally, remember to treat these connections as friendships. Don’t expect them to become lifelong friends, but instead view them as valuable contacts that you can use to plan future adventures.
Find Other Travelers Through Social Media
Traveling alone sucks. But traveling with friends makes everything better. So find other travelers through social media.
There are many ways to connect with others who share similar interests. Here are some ideas:
* Join Facebook groups where people discuss topics relevant to your travels.
* Use Twitter hashtags (#travel) to search for conversations about your destination.
* Follow bloggers who cover destinations you’re interested in visiting.
* Post questions on TripAdvisor forums.
* Search for Meetup events near your location.
* Check out Couchsurfing.com, a site dedicated to connecting travelers with hosts willing to rent rooms to guests.
* Find local tour operators and ask them to recommend other travelers.
* Ask your hotel concierge for recommendations.
* Look at online reviews of hotels and restaurants.
* Sign up for email newsletters from tourism organizations.
Final point
Meeting other travelers while traveling is a great way to make friends and find out about places you may never have visited otherwise.